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Do you love gingerale or ginger soda but are looking for something with sugar amounts you can control? Are you trying to start living more naturally or from scratch but don’t know where to start? If that sounds like you, you have to try this homemade ginger bug!
Homemade soda is quite simple to make and only takes a few days and a couple minutes of hands on work each day to provide a soda that is rich in probiotics and all the health benefits of ginger.
Let’s dive into making this ginger bug!
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This post is all about a homemade ginger bug.
Table of Contents
Why should you make a ginger bug?
Ginger bugs are a fermented product and as such, they contain a lot of probiotics and other gut healthy bacteria. Ginger is also known to have anti inflammatory and immune boosting properties. (Always consult a doctor before using any natural products or ideas.)
What materials do you need?
There are only 2 materials you need! I love an easy recipe, don’t you?
- You will need some sort of container that you can ferment the ginger bug in. I like to use mason jars but you are free to use whatever you have on hand! You need a container where the lid will come off easily and it can hold around 1-1.5 cups of water.
- The other materials you need are measuring cups and spoons to measure how much water, ginger and sugar you need to add daily.
What are the ingredients?
The only ingredients you will need are:
Fresh (or frozen) ginger: ideally this would be organic as we are leaving the skins on
Sugar: choose whatever sugar you enjoy and have on hand- I am sure this could be made with honey although I have not personally tried it.
Water: this needs to be filtered (non chlorinated)
How to make a ginger bug
The process is so simple! When I first made a ginger bug I was so shocked at how easy it was.
Day 1: Combine 1/4 cup water, 2 tbsp (or inches) of ginger and 1 tbsp sugar into a mason jar, close the lid finger tight and then place it off to the side on your counter.
Day 2: Combine 1/4 cup water, 2 tbsp chopped ginger and 1 tbsp sugar to the jar and gently stir it to combine. Place the lid back on finger tight and set it aside on your counter again.
Day 3: Again, add 1/4 cup of water, 2 tbsp chopped ginger and 1 tbsp sugar to the jar and stir to combine. Set it aside with the lid on in a warm spot on the counter.
Day 4: This is the last day of consistent ginger bug checks! Add 1/4 cup of water, 2 tbsp chopped ginger and 1 tbsp sugar to your ginger bug and stir to combine. Let it sit on the counter overnight.
Day 5: Your ginger bug is ready to use in your homemade soda recipes! If you are not ready to use it, place it in the fridge and move onto the next section: How to maintain your ginger bug.
This recipe is incredibly forgiving so you can add less or more of the ingredients and it will still turn out great!
How to maintain your ginger bug
After your 4 days are up, it is time to use it or slow down the fermentation process. We do this by placing the ginger bug in the fridge and feeding it once per week with 1 tsp ginger and 1 tsp sugar. When you open the lid, it should be bubbling and fizzy.
How do I use the ginger bug?
There will be a follow up tutorial on using your ginger bug but you can strain 1/4 cup of your ginger bug liquid into a sweetened drink of your choice (juice, lemonade or sweetened herbal tea are great options.) Let it sit on the counter for 2-4 days. This is how you get natural carbonation!
Be sure to feed your ginger bug if you use it!
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Thank you so much for reading! I cannot wait to hear how this turns out for you. Please let me know in the comments below!
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